The success of the 2016 Shanghai Isaac Stern International Violin Competition,
orgnizad by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, received worldwide coverage, and, for
the first time, demonstrated that a Chinese music competition is just as
sophisticated as any other at the global level. The Organisation Committee held
a press conference on August 8, 2018 to announce that the second edition of the
competition would take place from then until September 1 in Shanghai. In
addition, there was also a draw for the order of the quarter finalists.
Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180810/2209346-1
(Group Photo of Opening Press Conference)
Stellar Judging Panel
The Jury Committee has been expanded from thirteen to fifteen members, and
features a star-studded lineup of pedagogues, violinists, and industry leaders
to fairly evaluate the contestants in a variety of ways including technique,
interpretation, and performance.
The jury - co-chaired by conductor David Stern, son of Isaac Stern, and
Professor Vera Tsu Weiling, who has sat on the judging panels of many leading
international violin competitions – is comprised of internationally-acclaimed
violinists Maxim Vengerov and Augustin Dumay; leading figures of China's violin
industry Lina Yu and Siqing Lu; the founding member and first violinist of
Shanghai Quartet, Weigang Li; the founding member of Emerson Quartet, Philip
Setzer; the former concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Glenn Dicterow;
and concertmaster of Munich Philharmonic Sreten Krstic. The jury also includes
world-renowned pedagogues Zakhar Bron, Dora Schwarzberg, and Daniel Heifetz;
and two industry veterans, the founding member of the classical artists
management company Askonas Holt, Martin Campbell-White, and the current
programming director of Philharmonie de Paris, Emmanuel Hondre.
Renowned Collaborative Musicians to Help Improve Musical Quality
The repertoire of this edition provides a greater focus on interpreting and
understanding the musical spirit rather than merely technique, aiming to evolve
the candidates from 'soloists' to 'musicians.'
Additionally, the works include more diversified music styles and forms of
performances. Each contestant will perform four sets of works during the
Quarter-Finals. Then, for comprehensive assessment, the Semi-Finals will
include three sections - the string quartet in which contestants will perform
with three artists of the Shanghai Quartet; sonatas and Kreisler's works; and a
Mozart Concerto with an originally-composed cadenza. In addition to including a
concerto of choice, which is conventional in competitions, the Final Round will
include the violin concerto, La Joie de la Souffrance, by the renowned Chinese
composer Qigang Chen.
From Competition to a Professional Career on Bigger Stages
Besides the USD $100,000 prize presented to the champion, the largest music
monetary prize of any music competition in the world, the Competition puts
great effort on helping soloists become musicians over the long term on their
road to professional musicianship. The Competition also introduces the winners
to world-class agencies, recording opportunities, and facilitates
collaborations with top-level national and international orchestras such as the
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic, Guangzhou Symphony, Melbourne
Symphony, and Sydney Symphony, in order to open the door to a professional
career and to provide them a bigger stage.
Honoring Isaac Stern's Legacy
The 2018 competition will once again seek nominations for the Isaac Stern Award
- Human Spirit Award, which provides recognition to any individual from around
the world who has made an outstanding contribution to humanity through the
medium of music.
SOURCE Shanghai Symphony Orchestra